Rookie Riverman inks NHL deal with Blues

by Tomorrows Blues on Mar 19, 2008 9:21 PM CDT

By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department

You're lookin' at the newest member of the St. Louis Blues organ-eye-zation...

After a long journey from Alaska, through Traverse City, Michigan and then Peoria, center Julian Talbot has at last officially landed in the St. Louis Blues organization.

As reported in the Peoria Journal-Star by Rivermen beat writer Dave Eminian, Talbot, a 6'0, 185-pound left-shooting centerman from Wahnapitae, Ontario, has signed a two-year contract with the Blues.

Currently fifth in the AHL's rookie scoring race, Talbot has a team-leading 20 goals, to go along with 21 assists and a plus-12 rating in 65 games this season. Talbot also has 39 minutes in penalty time, has scored six times on the power play, once shorthanded, and has two game-winners.

Talbot, who reaches his 23rd birthday next week (born 03-24-85), spent the 2006-07 season with the Alaska Aces, where he racked up 20-33-53 numbers, with a nifty plus-24 and 54 minutes in the sin bin. Talbot also led Alaska in playoff scoring with nine goals and 11 assists, a total that ranked him in a tie for fourth place in the ECHL playoff scoring race despite playing only 15 games.

In a blog entry by Eminian, done prior to Talbot's signing, Eminian predicts that Talbot "has made himself a viable call-up next season," and features a video of Talbot fighting Lake Erie's much bigger (6'2, 200) Mike Vernace.

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"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."

-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851

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Comments

Good for him. Too bad his name is Julian. I’ll do him a favor and call him Felix.

by Answer Man on Mar 20, 2008 8:51 AM CDT reply actions

I like “Felix” better, too…

Wonder if he’s related to former Blue (and Denmver Spurs’ coach) Jean-Guy Talbot?

by GT Prospect Department on Mar 20, 2008 9:34 AM CDT reply actions

Ha, just shorten it to “Jules.” Hey Jules, welcome to the family.

by Pagan on Mar 20, 2008 11:56 AM CDT reply actions

Having watched him play a number of games I’ve got to say it’s a decent non-draft signing. He’s the kind of player you look for on a third line. But he’s defensive postioning is somewhat weak.

All in all it shouldn’t hurt to have a player like that in the system. But it should be noted he is tied in goals scored with Charles Linglet.

by chris d. on Mar 20, 2008 5:51 PM CDT reply actions